By MARK REY MONTEJO
The 18-year-old Ruivivar said she suffered from an allergy since last Monday, July 22, but was already treated at the medical clinic inside the sprawling facility.
“Hi [e]veryone, I just wanted to inform you all about a medical incident that took place this week,” Ruivivar wrote on asocial media post Friday, July 26.
“This Monday I was taking an evening walk when I began to have an anaphylactic reaction. I didn’t ingest tree nuts (to which I am allergic) or suffer from a bug bite, but for some reason I suffered from a severe allergic reaction,” she continued.
From there, the Stanford University standout contacted her parents with the help of teammate Aleah Fineggan, who is her roommate, and gymnastics chief Cynthia Carreon.
“When I got back to my room, I called my parents and got help from my roommate Aleah (Finnegan) to find the medical emergency clinic in the Village,” Ruivivar said.
While on their way to a clinic, Ruivivar was having a hard time breathing but eventually got cured thanks to the proper medical treatment.
“On the way to the treatment center my allergy symptoms escalated rapidly and my breathing became significantly labored, my throat began to constrict, my chest was itching, and I had severe swelling,” she added.
The Asian Championships bronze medalist said that she is well and thanked the people who lent their hands just to assist her.
“I just want to let everyone know that I am 100% safe and healthy. My muscles are fatigued and it definitely took a toll on my body, but I am doing everything I can to recover and perform at my best possible level,” Ruivivar stressed.
“I am slowly progressing back into routines; I will be competing at this Olympic Games and I am beyond grateful to everyone that helped me through this incident,” she concluded.
Ruivivar is set to compete in the qualification round along Finnegan and Emma Malabuyo on Sunday, July 28, at 2:50 p.m.
